School Bus Cake

School Bus Cake

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup shortening

8-9 cups confectioners’ sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons black paste or gel food coloring

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon yellow paste or liquid food coloring

2 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, cut in half

2 yellow gumdrops

6 red gumdrops

Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into two greased 8x4-inch loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to a wire rack to cool completely.

Place cakes end to end on a 22x8-inch covered board. Level if needed. From the top of one end, form the front of the bus by cutting out a section 1 inch deep and 3 inches long.

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter and shortening until fluffy. Add 6 cups confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining confectioners’ sugar until desired consistency is reached.

Tint 3/4 cup frosting with black food coloring; set aside. Tint remaining frosting yellow. Frost top and sides of cake with yellow frosting. Frost cut edge of cookies with yellow frosting to form wheel wells; place two cookie halves on each side of bus.

Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert a round tip. Fill the bag with black frosting. Outline windows on both sides of bus; pipe stripes under windows. Pipe windshield and back window; fill in with black frosting. Pipe lines on front of grille. Place yellow gumdrops on front of bus for headlights; place red gumdrops on front and back for lights.

Recipe and picture from TasteOfHome.com